Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi died of an infection while being treated abroad for an undisclosed illness, state-run television said on Tuesday (August 21).<br/> <br />Speculation that Meles, 57, was seriously ill grew after he failed to attend an African Union summit in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa last month.<br/> <br />Meles seized power in 1991 from Mengistu Haile Mariam's military junta.<br/> <br />During his time in office Meles was credited with steering Ethiopia towards economic growth and also helped mediate in several regional disputes, including rifts between Sudan and South Sudan.<br/> <br />However, international rights groups say Meles was intolerant of dissent. Several opposition figures and journalists have been arrested under a 2009 anti-terrorism law.
